"Participating in the Living Yoga Immersion Teacher Training was simply amazing. The instructors, Tricia and Lisa, were extremely knowledgeable and brought years of experience and their own practice to our teachings.
What I loved most about the program was that it was immersion based. For an entire four days, I fully immersed myself in the practice of yoga, and for the first time understood what "living yoga" truly means. The friendships I made with my fellow students will last a lifetime, as will the memories from our four weekends together." ~ Spring 2012 Living Yoga Graduate
200-hour Living Yoga Immersion Teacher Training Application
What is an immersion-based 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program?
An immersion-based program means that about once a month you will join your instructors and fellow students for a long weekend dedicated to yoga study and practice at the Gainey Conference Center, a full service conference and retreat center in Owatonna, Minnesota. You will stay at the center for the duration of the weekend with all of your meals included. Offering a teacher training in this format provides for an intensive experience that creates a strong community among students and teachers and provides the opportunity for transformation whether you plan to teach yoga or simply want to deepen your studies.
What are the time commitments for this program?
You will be expected to attend all modules and complete all homework assignments. Teacher training programs are comprised of contact hours, which refers to time spent with the primary instructors, and non-contact hours, which refers to the work you complete outside of time spent with the primary instructors. All of these hours must be completed to satisfy the 200-hour training requirement as defined by Yoga Alliance.
What are the dates for the next Living Yoga Immersion Teacher Training?
January 23 - 26, 2014
February 27 - March 2, 2014
April 24 - 27, 2014
May 29 - June 1, 2014
What makes this program different from other teacher training programs?
No other teacher training program in the Midwest offers an immersion, retreat-based training. With extensive teaching experience and a combined total of thousands of hours of study and practice, Lisa Bergly, Tricia Sletten and Gracia Gimse McKinley believe that an immersion-based training is invaluable experience for students who are interested in how to “live their yoga”.
In a retreat setting, students are able to do what they love most: study and practice Yoga. By leaving the demands of home, family and work behind, students have uninterrupted time in which to develop their yoga practice, deepen their understanding of the philosophy of yoga, and experience a lifestyle that brings them back to an authentic experience of themselves.
Additionally, each module has a specific focus or theme as well as an ongoing curriculum that integrates each of the individual modules into a cohesive experiential training.
Not only does the immersion format stimulate deeper learning, but it also enables the student to complete the training in a total of five months.
Topics include, but not limited to:
- Asana
- Pranayama
- Kriyas
- Meditation
- Yamas and Niyamas
- Yoga Sutras
- Ayurveda
- Sanskrit
- Chakras, Nadis and the Energy Body
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Therapeutic Application of Yoga Asana
- Alignment & Adjustments
- Safe and Effective Sequencing
- Finding Your Voice as a Teacher
- Business of Yoga
- Marketing and Promoting Yourself as a Teacher
What are the themes for each of the modules in the training?
Module 1: Yoga Fundamentals
Module 1 focuses on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as the foundation of your study of yoga asana. Through careful reading, study and contemplation of the sutras, you will become familiar with each of the eight limbs of yoga (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi) and how each is fundamental to encountering a full-spectrum experience of living yoga. During this module, basic ayurvedic principles and philosophy are introduced with recommendations for incorporating ayurvedic self-care routines into your daily life to support your yoga studies and practice.
The heart of this weekend, as well as the following weekends, is concentrated on yoga asana instruction. Using a variety of teaching methodologies including observation, demonstration, guided practice, group sharing, writing exercises, partner work and individual practice, you will refine and hone your understanding of alignment, adjustments, benefits, and contraindications for more than 30 asanas, including restorative yoga poses and pranayama techniques.
During the break between Module 1 and Module 2, you will concentrate your yoga practice on the asanas and pranayama introduced during the first module. This is a time of self-directed study with some required reading and journaling.
Module 2: The Anatomy of Yoga
During the second module, you will study with two guest teachers. Dr. Sarah Hjersjo leads our discussions about Anatomy & Physiology. With this information and the material covered in Module 1, you will explore a deeper understanding of both the subtle and gross anatomy of the body as it relates to yoga asana, yoga philosophy and Ayurveda. Caprina Brown, Sanskrit instructor and Brennan Healing Science practitioner, teaches Sanskrit in an easy-to-learn fashion through repetition of ancient Vedic mantras.
You will continue to study the Yoga Sutras through an expanded conversation that includes the more subtle levels of anatomy and physiology, such as the koshas, chakras and nadis. In addition to reviewing the material studied during Module 1, you will expand your studies to include several additional asanas, restorative yoga poses and pranayama.
During the break between Module 2 and Module 3, you will focus your yoga practice on the most recently introduced asanas and pranayamas, with an on-going review of the asanas introduced during Module 1. This is a time of self-directed study with some required reading and journaling. You will begin to structure your personal practice during this time.
Module 3: Inner Yoga
Module 3 expands on your Anatomy & Physiology studies with Dr. Sarah Hjersjo once again. You will also work with Caprina Brown and continue to develop your appreciation for the mystic and profound language of Sanskrit that is intimately linked to yoga. Both of the sessions with Dr. Sarah and Caprina will prepare you to dive deeper into your practice and study of yoga by exploring the theme for this module: Connecting to the Inner Teacher.
You will find that the work you have done to this point has been the equivalent of fertilizing the soil. During this module, you will draw on all of your previous experiences to identify who you want to be as a yoga teacher. Areas to be explored include creating a transformative class experience, safe and intelligent sequencing, finding your voice and developing lesson plans.
Further review of all asanas, restorative yoga poses and pranayama will continue. During this module, you will also complete your first group practice teaching experience.
Your primary assignment during the break between Module 3 and Module 4 is to teach three 1-hour classes to a group of three or more students. You will create a lesson plan for each class and a written personal reflection about your practice teaching experiences. It is highly recommended that you maintain and continue to develop your personal practice during this time. This is preparation for the final practice teach and short written exam that concludes the training in Module 4.
Module 4: Business of Yoga & Graduation
Module 4 begins with each student teaching a final practice teach to the entire group. In this highly supportive environment, you will receive honest and constructive feedback about your teaching. Group discussion is at the core of this module about topics such as the art of sequencing, ethics, marketing yourself as a yoga teacher and best business practices as an independent contractor.
On the last Saturday evening of the training, you will join your fellow students at a Graduation Banquet specially prepared for you. The entire evening is a celebration of your successful completion of the 200-hour Living Yoga Immersion Teacher Training. The following morning is the Graduation Ritual during which you will be awarded your yoga teacher certificate and blessings for this new path you have begun as a certified yoga instructor.
TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS:
On the first day of training, you will receive a Living Yoga Immersion Teacher Training manual. The following texts will be read and referenced throughout the training:
- The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras by Nischala Joy Devi
- The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume I by Ray Long and Chris Macivor
- The Key Poses of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume II by Ray Long and Chris Macivor
In addition, you will also need the following support materials:
- Two (2) notebooks - One for notes and the other for use as a spiritual journal.
- A yoga prop kit containing:
- One (1) yoga mat
- Two (2) rectangular bolsters
- Four (4) Mexican-style yoga blankets
- Two (2) blocks
- Two (2) yoga belts (8-10 feet long)
- One (1) eye pillow
Questions? Need more information? Give us a call at 952-474-7707 or send an email.
